Understanding your dental insurance is extremely important in order to maximize your coverage and get the best dental care at the best cost. As part of Insurance Awareness Day, Our team would like to share some tips on how to understand your dental insurance plan and how to make the most of it.
Your Policy: It may not be the most exciting read, but trust us that familiarizing yourself with your dental health insurance policy is the key to getting the most out of it. Knowing what your policy covers and does not cover, allows you to make more informed decisions about your treatment and when you want to schedule them. If you don’t understand any of the terminology used in the policy, our dental team in Arlington will be happy to help explain.
Your Insurance Provider: If you require any in depth clarification regarding the specific details of your coverage, make sure to call your insurance. They can provide guidance on your personal policy and help you maximize your benefits.
Your Covered Services: Identify the dental services that are fully covered under your insurance plan — this is usually any preventative care such as cleanings, check-ups and X-rays. You can also note what percentage is covered of other services (for example, minor procedures may be covered at 80%, and major procedures at 70%). Our team is happy to help provide estimates of your potential cost for treatment before you agree to treatment.
Waiting Periods: Note that some insurance policies have a “waiting period” before certain services are covered by insurance. Be sure not to get caught out by this.
In-Network vs. Out-of-Network: Depending on your insurance policy, certain dentists will or won’t be “in-network”. When signing up with us as a new patient or if you change your insurance, be sure to give us a call and check that we are an in-network provider.
Annual Maximums: As with health insurance plans, dental insurance policies usually have an annual maximum amount your insurance will pay within a year. Make sure to understand this before starting treatment.
Deductibles: If your insurance plan has a deductible this means that your dental insurance will only kick in once you’ve reached your out-of-pocket amount. If you haven’t kept track of how much you’ve spent, you can always check with your insurance team or sign up to their online portal to check online.
Dental Treatment Limitations: It’s important to be aware of what your dental insurance plan doesn’t cover to avoid unexpected costs. This usually means that orthodontic treatment and cosmetic treatments may not be included or require separate coverage.
Understanding your dental insurance coverage allows you to manage your dental care more effectively, so it’s important that you keep informed. We never want dental insurance confusions to deter you from treatment, so don’t hesitate to reach out to our dental team if you have any questions as we are always here to help!